Did something similar last fall, went with an HRV after sealing up the place tight. Installation wasn't too tricky—just mapped out vent locations, ran ducts carefully, and hooked it up. Definitely less stuffy now, and bills didn't spike noticeably either. Worth the effort, imo.
Did something similar a couple years back, sealed the house up tighter than a submarine and put in an ERV—pretty close cousin to your HRV. Took my sweet time mapping out duct runs, mostly because I'm picky (and maybe a little obsessive 😅). Honestly, hardest part was deciding where to punch holes in my freshly painted walls... nerve-wracking stuff.
Anyway, airflow improved noticeably without that stale, trapped-air feeling. Humidity control was a nice bonus too—house feels comfy year-round now. Bills stayed about the same, maybe even slightly lower, but nothing dramatic. I wouldn't say it's life-changing exactly, but definitely worth it if you're already tightening up insulation and sealing gaps. Just make sure you balance the airflow properly—grab yourself a cheap manometer or borrow one if you can; it'll save you headaches later.
"Bills stayed about the same, maybe even slightly lower, but nothing dramatic."
Interesting you mention that. I did a similar sealing and ERV install about five years ago, and honestly, my bills actually bumped up a bit at first—probably because we got too ambitious with airflow rates. Dialed it back later, and things settled nicely. So yeah, balancing is key, but I'd caution folks not to expect savings right away. Comfort-wise though...totally agree it's worth the hassle.
Funny you mention the comfort factor—I went through something similar last winter. Got my place sealed up tighter than a submarine, thinking I'd see instant savings. Nope... bills were pretty much the same, give or take a few bucks. But here's the kicker: suddenly I wasn't freezing my toes off every morning, and I didn't have to wear three sweaters just to watch TV.
I think sometimes we get caught up in chasing those dollar signs and forget that feeling cozy in your own home is priceless. Sure, balancing airflow and all that jazz matters, but even if you don't see dramatic savings right away, the comfort alone can make it worthwhile. Plus, fewer drafts mean fewer arguments over thermostat settings—probably saved my marriage more than my wallet, haha.
Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track. Give it some time; your wallet might not thank you immediately, but your toes definitely will.
"I think sometimes we get caught up in chasing those dollar signs and forget that feeling cozy in your own home is priceless."
Totally get where you're coming from with the comfort factor, but I'd argue it's not always just about coziness. Sealing a house too tightly without proper ventilation can actually cause issues down the road—think moisture buildup, mold growth, or even stale indoor air quality. I've seen clients go all-in on insulation and sealing, only to realize later they needed to invest in a decent ventilation system to balance things out.
Comfort is definitely important, don't get me wrong... but it shouldn't overshadow the technical side of things. A properly insulated home needs to breathe just enough to maintain healthy indoor air quality. Might be worth checking if your setup includes adequate ventilation or if you need an HRV (heat recovery ventilator). Otherwise, you might find yourself dealing with unintended headaches later on.
